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Yankees leave indelible mark on ASG

Yankees leave indelible mark on ASG

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By Bryan Hoch
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MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Wearing black stripes on their left sleeves to honor George M. Steinbrenner's passing, the Yankees brought their pinstripes to Angel Stadium for Tuesday's All-Star Game en masse and played notable roles in the American League's 3-1 loss to the National League.

Phil Hughes grew up just miles from Angel Stadium in Tustin, Calif., and had a large contingent of friends and family attending when he entered out of the home bullpen in the seventh inning, assigned a one-run lead to protect.

Hughes retired the first batter he faced, Joey Votto, but Scott Rolen and Matt Holliday singled to center, and AL manager Joe Girardi called upon the White Sox's Matt Thornton to finish the inning.

But Thornton could not clean up Hughes' mess, as Marlon Byrd worked a two-out walk and Brian McCann ripped a three-run double down the right-field line, giving the NL a 3-1 advantage and sending Hughes to the first loss in an All-Star Game by a Yankee since Tommy John in 1980.

"He gave up two singles and it ended up being the difference in the game, basically," Girardi said. "Matt Thornton gets a big out -- Chris Young popping it up -- and battles one and Byrd ends up getting a walk. We battled the lefties and got a base hit. Good baserunning by Scott Rolen really set that inning up."

Facts and Figures from the 81st All-Star Game

78,000

Pounds of ice used in concessions

800

Gallons of ketchup

10

Roster changes since original announcement

33

First-time All-Stars

6

Number of pitches needed by Cliff Lee to retire the side in order in the fourth

45,408

Attendance for the game

64,036

Attendance for the 1989 game at Anaheim when it was multi-purpose

46,309

Attendance at the first game in Anaheim in 1967

85

Game-time temperature in sunny Southern California

9

Games Ichiro Suzuki has been AL leadoff hitter, one more than Rod Carew (AL) and Willie Mays (NL)

5

All-Star hitting streak for David Wright. He is 6-for-13

8

Number of times the All-Star Game has been scoreless through four innings

Number of father-son All-Star combinations. Nick Swisher joined his dad Steve (Cubs, 1976) in playing in the All-Star Game

9

Number of years since Andy Pettitte's last All-Star appearance. The longest between appearances was Bert Blyleven (1973 to 1985)

2:59

Time of game

The AL had taken an early lead in the fifth inning, when starting second baseman Robinson Cano lifted a sacrifice fly to left field off Dodgers lefty Hong-Chih Kuo, scoring the Rays' Evan Longoria from third base. With Cano's sacrifice fly, the AL has scored first 10 times in the last 14 All-Star Games.

"I was satisfied to be able to help my teammates and my coaching staff," said Cano, who finished the All-Star Game 0-for-1 with an RBI. "I tried to make the most out of the situation. ... The key is swinging at strikes. Last year I was swinging at everything. Now I'm taking more pitches and I'm more focused and looking for pitches to drive."

With Bob Sheppard's recorded voice trailing his steps to home plate, Yankees captain and starting AL shortstop Derek Jeter finished 1-for-2 with a walk.

Jeter worked a five-pitch walk in the first inning against Rockies hurler Ubaldo Jimenez, but was punched out looking at a slider by the Marlins' Josh Johnson in the third. He cut at the first pitch he saw from the Phillies' Roy Halladay in the sixth and lined a single to right field before leaving for a pinch-runner.

Andy Pettitte made a successful return to the All-Star Game, his first appearance in a Midsummer Classic since 2001. Called upon to work the third inning for the AL, Pettitte did so in a scoreless nine-pitch frame, working around a hit with two strikeouts, fanning Andre Ethier of the Dodgers and Corey Hart of the Brewers.

AL Final Vote winner and State Farm Home Run Derby competitor Nick Swisher struck out in his first All-Star Game at-bat, fanning as a pinch-hitter in the seventh on an Adam Wainwright curveball, but said he was still jazzed by the last few days.

"It was everything I thought and more," Swisher said. "Just to be here and be in this locker room with the best players in the American League -- what an experience."

Swisher said one of his lasting memories will be participating in the State Farm Home Run Derby, despite his first-round exit after hitting four round-trippers.

"The Derby was a blast," Swisher said. "I definitely know next time around I'll be a lot better, because I'll know what to expect. Just to be part of all this, everything -- from the parade to the Derby to hanging with these guys here in the locker room. It doesn't get any better than that. It's just an amazing feeling, and I couldn't be more happy and proud to be representing the Yankees."

Alex Rodriguez did not play in the game, though he was available to come off the bench as the AL went into the bottom of the ninth trailing by two runs. He said that seeing the AL suffer its first defeat since 1996 was not completely shocking.

"I had a feeling at some point it was going to end, especially as much as you guys ask about it," Rodriguez said. "I knew deep down it might come. Thirteen in a row is a great streak and I think the game is tremendous. The interest is great, and talk about great pitching. Everyone played hard, a well-played game, and they deserve it."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.